Associate Scientist: Water Program

Position: Associate Scientist, SEI US Water Program

2 Position Openings: One position is Full-time (i.e. 40 hours/week) and one position is Part-time (i.e. 20 hours/week). Please note your preference(s) in the Questions section of the application form.

Center and location: SEI US Office in Davis, California, working primarily in person, with some remote work.

Start Date: Flexible

Application Deadline: June 7, 2024, 17:00 EDT, or until position is filled

Become part of our international non-profit research organization and help bridge environment and development science to policy and practice. The U.S. Center of the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI US) seeks both a full-time AND a part-time Associate Scientist to join our 13-person Water Program team.

SEI US seeks two Associate Scientists (one full-time, and one part-time) to work with us on water resources planning projects located in California. At SEI US, Associate Scientists support research and project work, project proposals, and communication of project findings. The ideal candidate will enjoy quantitative analysis in hydrology with an emphasis on groundwater. That candidate will utilize their quantitative and modeling skills in hydrology to directly contribute to policy making processes.

The Full Time Associate Scientist position requires regular attendance at client meetings in both Davis, and Woodland, California. For this position, key projects initially include:

• Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) related work in Yolo County, CA;
• Groundwater model calibration and verification in the California Central Valley.

The Part Time Associate Scientist will work with the SEI US Water Team on a project funded by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to support the development of technical tools to inform the California Water Plan Update.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Conduct research, analysis, and capacity building that contributes to assigned project(s).
• Design and implement research methods with guidance from overseeing colleagues.
• Write up, document and communicate research results; contribute to analyses; contribute text to publications or project reports; and participate in peer review as requested.

General responsibilities  

• Contribute to the life, management, and mission of the office, center, and SEI, including the promotion of collaboration across programs and centers.  Engage with Water Program and SEI US Center.
• Perform administrative and reporting tasks.
• Identify funding opportunities and communicate them to colleagues. Contribute to proposal writing tasks as assigned.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing. Engage in external communication tasks as assigned by project manager.

Requirements

Qualifications, skills, and experience:

• Minimum qualifications are a relevant master’s degree plus at least one year of relevant work experience.

• Required skills include water resource systems modeling (either simulation or optimization) and groundwater modeling.
• Desirable skills include combinations of the following: data analysis (sensitivity analysis preferred) and programming using Python, R, MATLAB, or equivalent as well as hydrogeology and visualization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English is required; proficiency in Spanish is preferred but not required.

Our offer

The salary range for a full time Associate Scientist is $68,600 to $78,600; the part time Associate Scientist position is pro-rated.

Benefits

SEI offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, a 5% retirement match, paid parental and family medical leave after one year of employment.

We have a welcoming work environment with flexible work schedules, and offer 10 holidays, 20 days of vacation and 10 days of sick leave each year to start, pro-rated for part time.